He Ain't Heavy, He's my Brother

When the Righteous
Brothers penned the lyrics to their iconic song, James and Ben Sewell were not yet
born. But, for them, the sentiment is
perfect. Sure, the brothers are close;
only 15 months a part in age. But the
bond that additionally connects them is their collective weight loss journey of
over 250 pounds.

But the road wasn’t
always smooth.

A few years ago, the
brothers started at the Y back, when their mom purchased a family membership
after her weight-loss surgery. Ben, the
younger brother, age 21, went to support his mom, walking beside her on the
treadmill. James started coming with a
baseball buddy who was rehabilitating from shoulder surgery. Both brothers were overweight, unmotivated,
and more than a little anxious about exercising in a gym.

“And, I really don’t really know why, but one
day we just decided that we had to do something about our size,” said James.

That “something” was a full-on commitment to
get healthy and fit. The brothers
started eating fresher and making better choices. They read up on fitness plans and worked with
instructors at the Y to get the most from their time, even creating a 7-day
plan for working all muscle groups. And although they sometimes used other
facilities, they always came back to the Y.

“I’ve been to other gyms
and they aren’t the same, “said James.
“There’s so many good people here, eager to encourage and help you with
anything while you’re here. They are
always friendly and ready to help.”

Just like the Sewell
brothers.

“Recently we had a younger guy join us,” said
Ben. “We helped him with his diet and
his workout routine and I think he’s down about 40 lbs.” James added that this young man was going
through some rough patches in life, but with his involvement with them at the
Y, he’s been feeling more in control – even crediting the brothers for helping
him stay on track and remain positive.

“I’m not just proud of what I accomplished or
what Ben accomplished, I’m also proud that we’re now able to help other people
get started and stay motivated,” said James.

The brothers are also
experiencing a new kind of confidence.
“I was that rare kind of nerd in school.
I would play Pokémon all day – but turn out to be voted Prom King. Yet I was really scared to talk to people,”
said Ben. “Now, I can talk to anybody.”

“Coming here helped me
break out of my shell,” said James. “I’m
getting used to talking to people and making friends every time we come
in.”

And they come in often.

“It’s not odd to see us here
2 x a day,” said James, explaining that he would come in before work to lift
with a friend, but return after Ben got home from school, just to keep him
track.

And, the Sewell brothers
are definitely on track.

“We know that nothing
comes easy. But we also know that if you
apply yourself and put in the time, anything is possible,” said James. “Ben and I are proof.”

The Akron Area YMCA is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to put
Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit,
mind and body for all. The Akron Area YMCA is a registered 501(c)(3)
organization, Tax ID #34-0714727, and contributions are tax deductible.